SITKA – The Sheldon Jackson Museum and the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum are pleased to welcome the third artist in the 2025 Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, Sydney Akagi, Tleinax Shaawat. She began her residency on August 18 and will be at the museum until August 29.
Akagi is an enrolled member of Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska and was born and raised on Lingit Aani in Juneau. She developed a passion for the arts growing up and has always had a deep love for fiber arts. It wasn’t until 2018, when Sydney first began weaving Ravenstail style, that she felt called to one particular artform. In 2020, she apprenticed in Chilkat weaving under Lily Hope. Although equally passionate about both styles of weaving, she finds a great love for combining them within her artwork. Since beginning weaving, Sydney’s work has reflected her relationship with her culture and the healing that has occurred by replicating and being inspired by traditional ceremonial woven pieces.
Sydney’s current woven pieces and designs reflect the environmental issues surrounding mining and fishing returns on the Taku River. In other work, she incorporates more contemporary designs in traditional forms and creates pieces from wool that may have traditionally been mens’ artwork. Sydney plans to spend the next year collaborating with artists on woven work and teaching students traditional methods of Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving.
While in residence at the museum, Sydney will teach a Ravenstail keychain making class and give a talk entitled "Threads of Resurgence: Chilkat Weaving, Repatriation, and the Power of Indigenous Female Art in Alaska." The talk will take place on Sydney’s last day at the museum on August 29 at 2 pm and will also be streamed on Zoom. Admission will be waived to those attending the artist talk and class.
Zoom details
To attend the talk online, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82846526068?pwd=2b3bv0qZ5sTyyfaI5QznA3qehrwAWz.1
Meeting ID: 828 4652 6068
Passcode: Recap
The majority of Akagi’s time at the museum will be spent working on a full-sized transboundary river salmon protector robe. The salmon protector robe draws attention to issues of salmon protection and the threat to salmon posed by mining projects in transboundary rivers. While working on her robe at the museum, Akagi will at times host her cousin, Michaela Goade, a bestselling Tlingit illustrator and artist, to collaborate with her on the weaving.
Summer hours are Monday–Friday, 9:30 am–4:30 pm, except holidays. Admission is $9, $8 for seniors, and free for ages 18 and under and active military and their families.. Assistance is available for visitors with special needs. For more information on operations or events, contact the museum at (907) 747-8981.
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